Heathrow expansion protest

ENVIRONMENTAL CAMPAIGNERS staged a peaceful protest in Heathrow’s Terminal One building on 12 January – part of ongoing opposition to the airport’s proposed expansion.

The protest was in anticipation of an expected decision by government ministers on whether or not to approve a third runway and a sixth terminal.

Environmentalists such as Greenpeace say that expanding Heathrow will add to air and noise pollution as well as contributing to global warming through increased carbon emissions.

Lined up against them is an unholy alliance of big business – British Airways, CBI, BAA, etc – and the TUC and GMB and Unite unions who argue that failing to expand Heathrow will mean losing out to other airports as Europe’s main transport hub. This will be bad for business and jobs in a recession-hit economy.

But opponents say that Heathrow’s expansion is all about making corporate profits and that those who will benefit from a bigger airport spend little of their money in Britain.

In a future issue of The Socialist we will carry articles debating the arguments for and against Heathrow’s expansion.